Student Dies During Protest In Ondo

A hit-and-run vehicle, Tuesday killed a student of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), identified simply as Israel Anuolowapo in the Ondo State capital.

Naija News reports that Anuolowapo, a 100-level student of the Department of Mathematics, was allegedly crushed to death in front of the university main gate by a reckless driver due to overspeeding; a development that has made students of the university hit the streets in the state in a peaceful protest over the death of Anuolowapo.

During the protest, the students barricaded the Ilesa-Akure Expressway, singing solidarity songs and restricted movement on the road.

The protest was said to have caused gridlock on the road and left several road users stranded.

The protesting students demanded that the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing erect speed bumps on the expressway particularly in the front of the school so as to enable students to cross the road freely and to reduce accident in that axis.

An eyewitness revealed that the operatives of the Ondo state police command intervened and persuaded the students to unblock the roads to enable free movement.

Speaking on the protest, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Femi Joseph, said the matter had been resolved, adding that the government had agreed to erect speed bumps on the expressway.

“When we got information about the protest, we immediately swung into action and appealed to them; nomalcy has been restored now,” he said.

Similarly, the Head of Media and Protocols Unit of FUTA, Adegbenro Adebayo said representatives of the school management met with the state government to register the displeasure and complaints of the students, adding that a resolution had been made.

He said, “It was an unfortunate incident. It happened yesterday (Tuesday) and the boy died same day at a hospital. We have formally informed his parents. We met with some government officials today (Wednesday) and our students have stopped the protest; they are all back on campus and academic activities have resumed. The state government, through the ministry of transport, has promised to erect speed bumps on the road and the work will start tomorrow (Thursday).”